The Reverend Jeremiah Wright has complained that his sermons explaining how the US government created the AIDS virus as a form of genocide for blacks, and his other interesting theories, have been taken “out of context.” That the “sound bites” are not representative of his preaching. Hugh Hewitt has helpfully posted links to many more complete sermons so that those interested in Obama’s mentor can judge for yourselves.
For example:
Remember, it was soldiers of the 3rd Marine Regiment of Rome who had fun with Jesus, who was mistreated as a prisoner of war, an enemy of the occupying army stationed in Jerusalem, to ensure the mopping up action of Operation Israeli Freedom. These people were blinded by the culture of war. Do you know what it is like to live under military rule 24/7, 365? These people were blinded by their circumstance of oppression. Their enemies not only had all of the political power, with Governor Pontius Pilate, y’all call him Pontius Pilate. He’s Italian, Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate was running the provisional government. Their enemies also had the military power. They not only had political power, they had the military power. It was Roman soldiers who kept Jesus up all night. It was the Italian army who led Jesus out to Calvary on Friday morning. It was the occupying military brigade who forced Simon of Sirene to carry the cross for Jesus. These people were tired of their oppression, they wanted the enemy up out of their land. Some of them did, some of them did not. The businessmen did not, those in bed with the enemy, let’s be clear. But the average citizen wanted them out, and they also wanted revenge. They wanted their king to get this military monkey off their backs. They wanted a regime change, if you will, and look what they called Jesus.
That should clear things up.
More here. Plenty of context.
Tags: Jeremiah Wright, Jesus, marines, Obama
Shame on you, Dr. K.! Obscuring the larger Truth with pesky little facts.
The truth is, the ancestry of Reverend Wrong allows him—in our bizarre culture—to get away with saying and doing things that would not be allowed otherwise.
Sunlight, as usual, remains the best disinfectant.
As for me, his comments accusing the government of creating HIV and loosing it upon the African American population is vile beyond words. If he knows that is a lie (as it is), he is despicable for spreading that lie for political gain. If he doesn’t know it, he is a fool.
I am sick and tired of seeing people like Wright given a pass, so that the can judge middle class values while driving expensive cars and building homes in all white neighborhoods.
The Bible says something important about hypocrites. Matthew 15:7 comes to mind.
And saying that white preachers are just as vile doesn’t help the situation. Vile is vile.
Apologies for the rant.
The best argument for AIDS as some sort of artificial plague was a book called “The River” which was an excellent history of the early years of the epidemic. The writer must have been obsessed because the book is huge but it is very well done. The problem is that his thesis has been disproved because some frozen serum from the early days has been found and analyzed. I have the story in my chapter. Most conspiracy theories are poorly constructed because of the pathology of the theorist. I’m currently jousting at Amazon about War and Decision, Feith’s book which is excellent. I’m about to fix dinner (Beef Wellington) and then walk around the lake with a cigar. I’ve spent a nice weekend in Tucson alone.
Pretty sure it was the Pharisees that called for the crucifixion, not the Romans. The Roman Pilate just saw it as a way to keep the Jewish leaders happy was my recollection. Happy leaders make for a quieter populace most of the time. But I’m not exactly a bible scholar. I was quite perturbed when I found out there was not a bible verse that said Jesus tied his ass to a tree. I was sure that I heard that in Sunday School somewhere. Yet if I’m correct, what’s that say about JW’s warped military analogy? Big time rev can’t even get the story Wright, er, right.
Oh, I am not a Biblical scholar at all, either. But I think that Reverend Wrong needs to consider Matthew 10 with regard to some of his sermons, which seem more about puffing himself up than leading anyone toward righteousness:
“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.'”
The whole AIDS thing he said—in church!—made me think of that.
Dr. K., my wife’s family is well acquainted with Hillary Koprowski. I’m glad he found the frozen stock and put that theory in “The River” to rest. It had real resonance to conspiracy types: people racing for recognition or fame and creating a plague by doing so.
Again, considering what HIV has done to so many people, the idea of *lying* about that ongoing tragedy to gain political advantage is foul beyond words. Yet this character will get a pass. Sigh.
Its always troubling when the one in the pulpit uses it for their own personal political platform. Its even more overtly troublesome when Scripture is handily twisted and manipulted that it ends up neatly accomodating a prescribed viewpoint.
I’ve left churches for far less disassembling and reassembling of scripture. And here I most seriously lack the intelligence, education, and inherent qualities to run for POTUS and yet a contender for the job is clueless? I’m thinking not. This will continue to plague Obama because the more he defends, spins, or tries to explain, the more the emperor’s nakedness is revealed.
Dana, my own faith and religion are far from perfect. And I am well aware that the evil Himself can quote scripture, as the saying goes. But I am appalled at any religious leader who spouts such hatred. Yes, yes, yes, folks can claim that many ministers say such things.
But look at the Reverend. He *still* thinks he is correct, and is somehow a victim for growing prosperous by preying on the fears and resentments of his flock.
Where is his humility? And more to the point, his intelligence? His continuing to carry on this way does not help Barack Obama. It hurts the man’s chances. But that doesn’t matter to Reverend Wright, who just loves being the center of attention, I’d wager.
Oh well. I’m a white man. It’s been made clear to me that disagreeing with Wright makes me a hateful racist. So much for the nationwide debate on race.
In Reverend Wright, I don’t see a Black man. I see a hypocritical and self-centered power monger.
Time for a drink, I guess.
You know what they used to say about the missionaries in Hawai’i, Dr. K. They came to do good, and did well.
Wright did it in one generation. He doesn’t care what he says, as long as it enriches him and makes him popular. The truth is overshadowed by Truth. And he knows that no one can correct or criticize him without the taint of racism being applied.
A huckster of the first water.
From what I’ve read of the transcripts and what I’ve heard on line and seen on television, my bottom line problem with him is he does not glorify God from the pulpit, he instead glorifies himself. Biggest red flag in my book. He can do all the good works in the world but if its about him and his agenda, so what?
I agree, Dana. I have been accused of trying to put ministers on pedestals. Guilty as charged. If they expect to lead us spiritually, they should not act in that fashion. And that goes across the board.
But when you add the kryptonite of race to this issue, no one dare criticize Wright without being called a racist. It’s nonsense. Wright is not a good person, if for no other reason the AIDS comment.
It’s funny how the MSM says that his comments are taken out of context. And when we see the whole dog and pony show, the picture gets even nastier. It’s the religious equivalent of Gary Hart telling the press to follow him around.
>>>>And when we see the whole dog and pony show, the picture gets even nastier.
Agreed. Some context. My opinion of Wright is lower now than when I started.
He sounds like a Washington Democrat, where everything flows top down, from government to people, so if there is something you don’t have, it is because the government has not given it to you, and if the government has failed you in some way, it is because the wrong people are in power, so vote for ‘my people’, and all will be well.